The next time you visit a pub playing loud music, better write down the instructions/requests lest you be accused of something you didn’t do, or worse still, misunderstood.

A 25-year-old freelance fitness trainer from Assam has alleged that he was beaten black and blue by three bouncers on Sunday night at 55 Wall Street Bar and Kitchen, an upscale pub in JP Nagar 2nd phase. The pub’s manager, however, has said that the customer had agreed to take back the complaint if his medical expenses were met and that the two parties have reached a ‘compromise’.

But what is interesting is the reason behind the brawl. While Polash Jyoti Konwar, a resident of Begur, claims that he was merely asking for his mobile phone and charger to be returned, the pub claims that he was asking for a lady staffer’s number. What perhaps added to the confusion was the loud music playing in the background.

On Sunday, Konwar had handed in his phone and charger when he reached the pub along with a friend. Sometime later in the night, he returned to the hostess and asked for his phone. A bouncer standing next to the hostess took objection to what he thought Konwar had said and called two of his colleagues. The three then allegedly started punching Konwar in the face and kicked him out of the pub; they continued assaulting him till the parking lot.

“The bouncers did not give me a chance to explain myself. They punched me in the face and there are cuts on my forehead; I even have a black eye. I’m still recovering from the brutal physical attack and when they did not apologise, I filed a police complaint against the three bouncers,” Konwar told Bangalore Mirror.

The bouncers did not give me a chance to explain myself. They punched me in the face and there are cuts on my forehead; I even have a black eye.

– Polash Jyoti Konwar, who was thrashed

Konwar identified his assaulters as Manju, Lakshman and Ganesh. He filed a complaint at the JP Nagar police station and a case has been filed against the three bouncers under sections 324 (of causing hurt by dangerous weapons), 341 (wrongful restraint), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.

“Manju and another person claiming to be the assistant manager of the pub came to the police station and the bouncer apologised for the incident and admitted that it was due to the misunderstanding. The other two bouncers Lakshman and Ganesh did not turn up. I’m facing such a problem for no fault of mine. I went to the pub with one of my friends and had two mugs of draught beer and I was not high as alleged by the bouncers. Neither did I ask for the woman staff’s number nor did I touch her.

But the three bouncers beat me up badly with some weapons,” he added.

However, the pub’s manager refuted the allegations stating that the bouncers did not assault the customer and there was no CCTV footage to prove his allegations. He also added that the customer had indeed asked for the woman staff’s mobile phone number and the latter has confirmed it.

“The lady claimed that the customer had asked for her number. After the complaint was registered, the JP Nagar police visited the pub and went through the CCTV footage. The alleged manhandling did not happen inside the pub premises and there is no footage to ascertain his claim. Even the bouncers against whom the allegations were levelled have refuted them.

Moreover, the customer has agreed to withdraw the complaint on the condition that we foot his medical expenses and he has given that in writing before the police officer,” said Ashok, manager of the pub.Konwar dismissed the manager’s claim and reiterated that he was assaulted really badly. “I was taken home in an auto by my friend. Since it was paining heavily, I slept after popping sleeping pills. The next day I went to the police station and filed a complaint. A medico legal case is also registered at the private hospital where I was treated,” Konwar told Mirror, adding that he had come to Bengaluru around eight years back to pursue engineering.

“The case is under investigation. The statements of both the victim and the bouncers have been taken. We have gone through the CCTV footage of the pub to find out if the gym trainer has erred,” said an officer who is part of the investigation.

Recent Messages ()

Please rate before posting your Review

OR PROCEED WITHOUT REGISTRATION

Share on Twitter

SIGN IN WITH

Refrain from posting comments that are obscene, defamatory or inflammatory, and do not indulge in personal attacks, name calling or inciting hatred against any community. Help us delete comments that do not follow these guidelines by marking them offensive. Let's work together to keep the conversation civil.